Skeuomorphic Emoji

Emoji designed to look like realistic, three-dimensional objects with shadows, gradients, and texture — common in early emoji designs.

Skeuomorphic design mimics real-world objects in digital form. Early emoji (and Apple's emoji in particular) used heavy skeuomorphism — glossy surfaces, drop shadows, and realistic textures that made emoji look like miniature photographs.

The broader design industry moved from skeuomorphism toward flat design around 2013 (iOS 7, Material Design). Emoji followed suit, with most platforms adopting flatter, simpler designs — though some 3D elements remain.

Microsoft's Fluent Emoji (2021) represents a middle ground: 3D forms with soft, clay-like textures rather than photorealistic rendering.